Foals, SSE Arena

On 16 Feb 16, Event starts at 19:00

Indie heroes Foals to play SSE Arena on February 15

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Foals, Photograph: WBR Press

Foals, SSE ArenaFoals, SSE ArenaJames Stanfield

When Foals arrived on the scene in the late 00’s, they
quickly became indie favourites. Aptly categorised as math-rock, the Oxford five
piece won plaudits for their intricate guitar lines, pin-point rhythms and precocious
lyricism. Now, some eight years after their debut, they’ve grown from a modish cult
concern to one of the country’s biggest guitar bands.

Foal’s early recordings were characterised by a sense of
claustrophobia. On tracks like ‘Cassius’, and ‘Balloons’ there was no let-up:
the sound was taut, stretched almost to breaking point by trilling guitars, and
faultless, mechanistic-sounding drum beats. On their more recent records, and
particularly 2015’s What Went Down,
the group have opened up their songwriting, and done so to great effect. This
is recognisably the same band – rhythmic precision remains at the heart of what
they do - but the compositions feel far roomier. The result is a more anthemic,
grandiose sound; come and hear it for yourself on February 15 at the SSE Arena.